Environmental threats are pretty technical in nature so let's break this down properly. You’ll encounter specific temperature thresholds that trigger health damage below -7° c causes cold damage while desert heat above 40° triggers dehydration about every 30 seconds. For radiation zones the damage tick rate is roughly 5hp per second without proper protection, and increases to 10hp when deeper in high rad areas. Watch for the radiation warning indicator in the bottom right, as it gives you about 3 seconds before damage starts.

The timing on wildlife encounters matters a lot too. Bears have a 1.5 second wind up before charging and deal 50 damage per hit, while wolves attack in 0.8 second intervals dealing 15 damage each bite. Position yourself on elevated terrain or 2x1 structures when possible, as this prevents their attack animations from connecting. During adverse weather, visibility drops to roughly 30 meters in heavy fog and 20 meters in snowstorms, so stick to valleys and treelines for better tactical awareness.

For optimal survival, you’ll want to maintain specific resource thresholds keep at least 500 wood, 200 cloth, and 2 3 water jugs at all times. Base design needs precise layouts water catchers require 4 foundations of space and should be placed with 75% sky exposure for maximum collection. Underground bases work best at y level 1 or 2 below surface, maintaining 12 15° ambient temperature regardless of outside conditions. Good to know the radiation suit provides 50% protection which scales with quality, so a high quality suit is essential for extended radtown runs lasting more than 5 minutes.